A teacher by profession, but is now in his 38th year as a football writer. Has written for "Soccer Action" (Melbourne), "Australian Soccer Weekly" (Sydney) and "World Soccer" (London), as well as for several Tasmanian newspapers. Currently contributing to "Goal!Weekly" in Melbourne and the Australian magazine "Soccer International". Played for Croatia-Glenorchy, Caledonians, Metro, Rapid and University in Tasmania, as well as in the United States of America. Coached University, Metro and Croatia-Glenorchy.

Who's Online

February

University paid tribute to their president, Fred Joughin, on Saturday in recognition of his award of a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Fred Joughin’s President’s XI played the Chairman’s XI at Olinda Grove and the match ended in a fitting 4-4 draw.

A barbecue in the Joughin Pavilion followed, and Fred was honoured by club stalwarts and supporters, past and present.

He received his OAM on Australia Day “For service to sport, particularly through the Tasmanian University Soccer Club.”

“I’m greatly honoured and I feel humble in many ways,” said Joughin, 83, who first played for University in 1950 at the age of 25 and finished his playing career aged 58.

“Soccer has been one of the three most important things in my life, after my wife and family, and my job and career.

“I gave up a lot of other things for soccer.

“For example, I only travelled during the summer off-season because I couldn’t bear not playing soccer.”

Joughin, a solicitor by profession, was made club captain when he joined in 1950 and was elected as chairman in 1958, a position he held for the next 20 years.

He was then elected to the new position of club president in 1979, an office he holds to this day.

Joughin also served as an administrator at club, southern, north-western and state levels.

He was made secretary of the State Soccer Council in 1959 and was made a life member in 1962.

He was made a life member of the University Soccer Club in 1966.

He finished his playing career after suffering a heart attack at training when he was 58 years old, but continued his involvement as president.

Joughin attends most of University’s Premier League games and, apart from having the club house named in his honour, there is a special reserved parking space kept for him at all times at Olinda Grove.

Melbourne Victory scored an impressive and easy 2-0 away win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday in the first leg of their major A-League semi-final.

Adelaide's Sasa Ognenovski was the luckiest player on the field.

In the opening minutes he upended Kevin Muskat with a cynical foul that earned him a yellow card.

In the final minute, he grabbed Danny Allsopp's shirt as the Victory striker ran into the box and scored his side's second goal. That should have earned Ognenovski a second yellow, which would have ruled him out of the return leg at the Telstra Dome.

Carlos Hernandez, the Costa Rican striker, put Melbourne ahead in the 13th minute with a marvellous strike from the right-hand corner of the box, the ball hitting the underside of the bar and crossing the line before rebounding into play for Allsopp to head into the net.

Archie Thompson was unlucky when his shot from the left was turned against the far post by Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic, the ball then rolling along the goal-line and rebounding into play off the far left-hand post before being scooped up by a grateful Galekovic.

Hernandez's shooting was awesome and he was denied a second goal by a fine block by Galekovic.

Glenorchy Knights have adopted a tough stance on the eve of the Summer Cup competition against their players who have not paid their fees and the club are prepared to forfeit matches rather than play 'fee evaders'.

I have been told that at least one other southern club will adopt the same attitude.

"Someone has to do it,and it may as well be the Knights," said Knights official John Peter.

"We are making a stand, but not because we cannot pay their registrations.

"Far from it. But, we are getting weary chasing players for money each year and some players going from club to club getting a free ride.

"Players have got to learn that here in Tasmania we are strictly amateur and it is a user-pays system.

"It is like any other amateur sport or gym, where you must pay for the things you use.

"Football is no exception, with players paying for FFT and other national body fees, including insurance and membership or affiliation fees, ground hire, including training, referees' fees, coaching fees and licences, equipment such as strips, balls, training aides, first aid and so on.

" Players must also understand that their player fees do not go near to what it costs a club to put a player on the park. Tthe rest is made up through sponsorship and fundraising activities.

"Furthermore, I would suggest that most clubs are not-for-profit organisations, so they do not retain a lot of money in the bank and so require player fees to be paid so that they can have a cash flow and pay their own bills on time.

"Not to do so could see a club fined, penalised or charged interest.

"I am not suggesting that the Knights are not financial. Far from it. But, we need to be vigilant to maintain our cash flow."

That is a well-presented argument and it is hoped that players will do the right thing.

The last thing the game needs at the top level is forfeited games.

I also think the current transfer system is a joke, even though it is an amateur game.

A situation where players can simply leave a club one day of their own volition and with no strings attached and play for another the next makes a mockery of the competition.